In 2012 Joseph Ficalora, heir to the GCM Steel business, grew tired of fighting graffiti artists and white washing their work off his building walls. He googled “street art,” picked some artists he liked and emailed them to ask if they wanted to come paint murals in his neighborhood. International artists from all over the world responded and so began New York’s premiere outdoor street art gallery known as The Bushwick Collective, which Ficalora dedicates to the memory of his parents. Ficalora’s story is heartfelt and pretty great. You can read it here.

I visited the Bushwick Collective this weekend and was blown away by the array of art, from massive gorgeous murals by famous painters to small clever wheatpaste pieces by local artists.

I came around the corner, saw that vibrant purple paint and the glimpse of a skull and I knew it was D*Face

Art by D*Face – The Bushwick Collective, NY

I could wish for a better picture without trees and trucks… but I’ve loved his pop art zombies since I first saw him in Las Vegas

Art by D*face – Las Vegas, NV

Art by D*face – Las Vegas, NV

And in Reykjavik, Iceland

Art by D*face – Reykjavik, Iceland

I also found Pixel Pancho, who paints the most wistful romantic robots

Art by Pixel Pancho – Bushwick Collective, NY

I’ve also seen his work in Las Vegas and particularly love these robots in love with the option for 24-hour prime rib

Art by Pixel Pancho – Las Vegas, NV

I love his take on A-I, as something transcendent instead of terrifying

There were a few artists new to me, like Louis Masai who raises awareness of vulnerable and endangered animal species as part of his “Art of Beeing” national street art campaign. This is the New England Cottontail Rabbit

Art by Louis Masai – The Bushwick Collective, NY

And the Bog Turtle

Art by Louis Masai – The Bushwick Collective, NY

Japanese fashionista Lady Aiko is also new to me and I loved this graphic digital-esque mural of hers

Art by Lady Aiko – The Bushwick Collective, NY

I’ve found Stik’s figures other places in New York and I always his enjoy his mural placements.